Double spool wire winder with automatic spooling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A support frame for support from a tractor hitch. The frame includes a rotatable transverse winding drum to be driven from a tractor power take-off and supported from the frame for easy removal therefrom. The frame further includes spooling guide structure for guiding wire being wound on the winding drum and the spooling guide structure includes structural features which enable it to be rendered inoperative and stored in an out-of-theway position when it is desired to unwind wire from the drum.

United States Patent 1151 3,661,340 Trussell 14 1 May 9, 1972 [541 7 DOUBLE SPOOL WIRE WINDER WITH 3,356,341 12/1967 Brown ..242/86.5 x

AUTOMATIC SPOQLING ME H I M 1,178,159 4/1916 Holmes ..242/55. 2

[72] Inventor: Earl R. Trussell, Syracuse, Kans. 67878 [22] Filed: Mar. 17, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 20,168

[52] U.S. Cl 242/86 8 [51 Int. Cl B65h 75/40 [58] Field of Search ..242/86. 8, 86.5, 86.7, 86.51,

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,602 1/1915 Sessions ..254/l66 X 886,160 4/1908 Stark ..242/l58.1

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant Examiner-Gregory A. Walters AttorneyClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT A support frame for support from a tractor hitch. The frame includes a rotatable transverse winding drum to be driven from a tractor power take-off and supported from the frame for easy removal therefrom. The frame further includes spooling guide structure for guiding wire being wound on the winding drum and the'spooling guide structure includes structural features which enable it to be rendered inoperative and stored in an out-of-the-way position when it is desired to unwind wire from the drum.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures P ATENT ED MAY 9 m2 SHEET 1 OF 3 Earl R. Trusse/l PATENTEDMM 9 I972 3,661,340

SHEET 2 [1F 3 PATENTEUHM 9 I872 3 661 40 SPEET 3 OF 3 Earl R Trusse/l DOUBLE SPOOL WIRE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC SPOOLING MECHANISM The tractor mounted wire spool and winder has been designed to support a plurality of wire spools thereon and for winding wire on the spools and unwinding wire therefrom with the spools supported from opposite sides of the winder for balance when the spools have wire wound thereon. Drive means is provided whereby the spools may be selectively or simultaneously driven from the associated tractor power takeoff and the spool supporting and driving structure has been designed to enable either one or all of the spools to be readily removed and replaced when desired. Further, the winder ineludes spooling guide structure for each of the spools operative to automatically guide wire being wound upon the spools. However, the spooling guide structure is readily renderedinoperative and stored in an out-of-the-way position when it is desired to unwind wire from the spools.

The wire winder has been designed to provide a means whereby a farm tractor or other suitable prime mover may be utilized in rolling up either one or two strands of wire. The winder is also operative to unroll one or two wires. Further, the winder has been designed specifically for support from a conventional tractor three-point hitch and includes a power train to be driven from the associated tractor power take-ofi.

The power train of the winder includes a change speed transmission such as a conventional automotive manual transmission and accordingly, the wire winding spools of the wire winder may be driven at several speed ratios relative to the speed of rotation of the associated tractor power take-off shaft.

The wire winder is constructed so as to be generally bilaterally symmetrical and is therefore evenly balanced for ease in handling and operation. Further, the wire spool spindles of the winder and the supporting portions of the frame of the winder are constructed in a manner whereby wire supporting spools may be readily mounted on or removed from the driven spool support spindles of the winder.

The main object of this invention is to provide a wire winder for use in conjunction with a conventional farm tractor and which may be utilized in winding and unwinding fence wire and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wire winder in accordance with the preceding object and including a pair of wire spool supporting spindles which may be selectively driven to wind wire on associated wire spools.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a wire winder constructed in a manner whereby associated spools of wire may be readily mounted on and removed from the wire winder. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a wire winder including driven wire guide means operative to guide the wire being wound on each spool so that the wire may be evenly wound thereon.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a wire winder in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the wire winder as mounted on a conventional tractor lift hitch;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating one of the wire guide structures thereof rendered inoperative;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 3 and with the adjacent rear axle end of the associated tractor broken away and illustrated in vertical section;

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of the drive train of the wire winder;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one rear comer portion of the wire winder illustrating the manner in which a spool of wire may be mounted on and removed from the driven spool spindle at that side of the wire winder; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of one of the wire guiding structures of the wire winder.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of farm tractor including a rear axle assembly 12 and a lift hitch assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 14.

The assembly 14 includes upper lift arms '16 and lower arms 18. Further, the tractor 10 includes a power take-off shaft 20.

The wire winder of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 and includes a framework 24 defining front and rear transversely extending marginal portions 26 and 28 interconnected at corresponding ends by front-torear extending opposite side marginal portions 30 and 32. The framework 24 further includes lower forwardly projecting opposite side mounting plates 34 and 36 and upper forwardly projecting opposite side mounting arms 38 and 40. The forward ends of the mounting plates 34 and 36 are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the lower arms 18 and the forward endsof the arms 38 and 40 are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the arms 16.

A conventional automotive transmission referred to in general by the reference numeral 42 is supported from the front marginal portion 26 of the frame 24 and includes an input shaft 44 driven from the power take-off shaft 20 by means of a drive shaft 46 coupled to the power take-off shaft 20 by a universal joint 48 and coupled to the input shaft 44 by means of a universal joint 50.

The transmission 42 includes an output shaft 52 having a sprocket wheel 54 mounted thereon. An idle sprocket wheel 56 is journaled from a support bracket 58 supported from the framework 24 and a main drive shaft 60 is journaled from the framework 24 by means of journal blocks 62 and 64. The drive shaft 60 has a sprocket wheel 66 mounted thereon and the sprocket wheels 54, 56 and 66 are aligned and an endless chain 68 is trained about the sprocket wheels 54, 56 and 66 whereby the output shaft 52 is drivingly coupled to the drive shaft 60.

A jackshaft70 is also journaled from the framework 24 and generally parallels the drive shaft 60. The forward end of the jackshaft 70 has a large pulley wheel 72 mounted thereon and the rear end of the jackshaft 70 has a small pulley wheel 74 mounted thereon. An intermediate portion of the drive shaft 60 hasa small pulley 76 mounted thereon aligned with the pulley 72 and an endless flexible belt 78 is trained about the pulleys 72 and 76. In addition, a secondary drive shaft 80 is journaled from the framework 24 and includes a large pulley wheel 82 on its forward end aligned with the pulley wheel 74. Still further, the rear end of the drive shaft 60 has a bevel gear 84 mounted thereon.

A transverse shaft 86 is journaled from the framework 24 by means of journalblocks 88 and 90 and the transverse shaft 86' has a bevel gear 92 mounted on its mid-portion with which the bevel gear 84 is meshedrln addition, a pair of opposite side spool spindle shafts are also journaled from the framework 24 by means of corresponding pairs or sets of journal blocks 98 and 100 and also journal blocks 102 and 104 by which the remote ends of the spindles94 and 96 are journaled.

Each of the spindles 94 and 96 is axially aligned with the corresponding end of the transverse shaft 86 and the remote ends of the transverse shaft 86 are operatively coupled to the adjacent ends of the spindles 94 and 96 by means of combined brake and clutch assemblies referred to in general by the reference numerals 108. The assemblies 108 are carried by support levers 110 oscillatably supported from the framework 24 and each lever 110 has a pivoted anchor arm 112 secured thereto. Each of the anchor arms 112 is notched as at 114 for engagement with corresponding adjacent portions of the framework 24 whereby the upper ends of the actuating and support levers 110 may be retained in positions shifted away from each other with the opposite ends of the transverse shaft 86 declutched from the support spindles 94 and 96 and the latter braked against rotation relative to the framework 24. The upper ends of the support levers 110 are urged toward each other by means of the compression springs 116 which comprise parts of the assemblies 108 and accordingly, when the anchor arms 112 are released, the compression springs 116 serve to swing the upper ends of the support levers 110 toward each other so as to thus release the braking action on the spindles 94 and 96 and clutch the latter to the adjacent ends of the transverse shaft 86 for rotation therewith.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the marginal portions 30 and 32, from which the journals or journal blocks 102 and 104 are supported, are pivotally supported from the corresponding ends of the marginal portion 26 by pivot fasteners 118 and 120. The remote or rear end portions of the marginal portions 32 are in turn releasably secured to the corresponding ends of the marginal portion 28 by means of removable fasteners 122 and 124. Further, the remote ends of the spindles 94 and 96 include diametrically reduced journal pin portions 126 relative to which the journal blocks 102 and 104 may be axially shifted. In this manner, the fasteners 122 and 124 may be removed so that the rear ends of the marginal portions 30 and 32 may be swung outwardly of the opposite sides of the framework 24 so as to expose the remote ends of the spindles 94 and 96. After the remote ends of the spindles 94 and 96 have been exposed, aspool 128 may be axially engaged with each spindle 94 and 96 before the marginal portions 30 and 32 are again swung toward and secured in operative positions with the journal blocks 102 and 104 journaling the journal pin portions 126. Of course, the spools 128 may have wire wound thereon or may be utilized, after mounting on the spindles 94 and 96, to wind wire thereon. In any event, the marginal portions 30 and 32 are readily swingable toward inoperative positions exposing the spools 128 so that the latter may be readily removed and/or replaced with other spools.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. I3 and 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the marginal portion 28 includes a pair of opposite end horizontal guide bars 130 and 132. In addition, each guide bar has a slide assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 134 mounted thereon for guided sliding movement there along. Each slide assembly 134 includes a pair of transversely spaced vertical guide rollers 136 and 138 and a horizontal guide roller 140. In addition, each slide assembly 134 includes an inwardly projecting apertured mounting car 142 to which the free end ofa corresponding connecting rod 144 is oscillatably connected by means of a spring-urged retractable pivot pin 146. The ends of the connecting rods 144 remote from the pivot pins 146 thereof are rotatably anchored to a crankpin 149 carried by the outer end of a crank arm 150 mounted on the rear end of the drive shaft 80. Accordingly, when the free ends of the connecting rods 144 are connected to the corresponding slide assemblies 134, the slide assemblies 134 are inversely oscillated along the guide bars 130 and 132.

The pulley wheels 74 and 82 are interconnected by means of an endless flexible belt 148 and a lever 151 is pivotally supported from the framework 24 at its lower end and has a tensioning pulley 152 journaled thereon and adjustable longitudinally there along. The belt 148 is also trained over the pulley wheel 152 and the lever 151 includes an anchor arm 154 similar to the anchor arms 112 and also engageable with an adjacent portion of the framework 24 so as to retain the upper end of the lever 151 in position displaced toward the right as viewed in FIG. of the drawings with the pulley wheel 152 tensioning the belt 148 so as to drivingly couple the jackshaft 70 to the drive shaft 80. Of course, the pulley wheel 152 is adjustable longitudinally of the lever 151 so as to enable the predetermined applied position" ofthe lever 151 determined by the anchor arm 154 to variously tension the belt 148, as desired.

The right hand connecting rod includes an offset 156 on its end adjacent the crank arm 150 by which the right hand connecting rod 144 is secured to the crank arm 150 and the left hand connecting rod 144 includes an upstanding bifurcated support 158, see FIGS. 2 and 3,intermediate its opposite ends which may function to cradle the free end portion of the right hand connecting rod 144 when the latter is disconnected from the right hand slide assembly 134. In addition, when the right hand connectingrod 144 is connected to the right hand slide assembly 134, the left hand connecting rod 144 may be disconnected from the left hand slide assembly 134 and swung in a clockwise direction relative to the right hand crank arm 150 into position with the bifurcated support 158 abutted against the right hand connecting rod 144. Accordingly, the bifurcated support 158 may be utilized to support the right hand connecting rod 144 from the left hand connecting rod 144 or to support the left hand connecting rod 144 from the right hand connecting rod 144.

When the slide assemblies 134 are operatively connected to the corresponding connecting rods 144, rotation of the shaft will cause the slide assemblies 134 and their guide rollers 136, 138 and to be oscillated back and forth rearward of the corresponding spools 128 whereby wire being wound upon the spools 128 may be wound evenly thereon. Of course, when it is desired to unwind wire from the spools 128, the slide assemblies 134 may be disconnected from the corresponding connecting rods 144 so as to be rendered inoperative. Further, the marginal portion 128 includes a pair of opposite side rearwardly projecting hook supports 160 upon which the free ends of the connecting rods 144 may rest when the shaft 80 is not being driven from the jackshaft 70. Thus, both of the connecting rods 144 may be maintained in a completely inactive and motionless state.

In operation, when it is desired to wind wire upon the spools 128, the transmission 42 is placed in the desired gear and the lever 151 is secured in a position with its upper end portion displaced to the right so as to tension the belt 148. Further, the anchor arms 112 are released whereby the springs 116 will urge the assemblies 108 toward each other and thus clutch the opposite ends of the transverse shaft 86 to the spindles 94 and 96. Then, with the wire being wound on the spools 128 threaded between the corresponding pairs of guide rollers 136 and 138 and over the corresponding rollers 140, the power output shaft 20 may be actuated so as to wind the wire on the spools 128 with the wire being wound on the spools 128 being guided by the slide assemblies 134 which are reciprocated by the connecting rods 144.

Of course, if only one of the spools 128 is to be driven, the other assembly 108 may be deactivated so as to declutch the other spool 128 from the transverse shaft 86. Further, the connecting rod 144 of the corresponding slide assembly 134 may be released and swung over to the opposite side of the framework 24 for support from the other connecting rod 144.

When it is desired to unwind wire from the spools 128, both of the connecting rods 144 are disconnected from the corresponding slide assemblies 34 and the latter are shifted to extreme ends of the corresponding portions of the guide bar 130. In addition, the free ends of the connecting rods 144 are supported from the hook supports 160 and the anchor ann 154 may be released whereby the belt 148 will be untensioned. Thereafter, the tractor 10 may be forwardly advanced while the levers 110 are held in positions with their upper ends displaced away from each other by means of the anchor arms 112. This will of course apply a braking action on the spools 128 so as to maintain the wire being unwound therefrom tensioned as the tractor 10 is advanced along its path of intended movement.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including front to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members joumaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means including a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means,'a crank arm carried by a rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof joumaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof pivotally secured to said wire guides, said second coupling means including means for selectively declutching said front to rear extending drive shaft, said other pair of ends of said connecting rods being detachable from said guides, the opposite end portions of said rear marginal portion of said frame include rearwardly projecting supports 7 generally horizontally aligned with the lowest points of the circles through which said one pair of ends of said connecting rods are swingable upon rotation of said shaft, the other pair of ends of said connecting rods being downwardly swingable into supporting contact with said rearwardly projecting supports after said other pair of ends are detached from said guides.

2. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising asupport frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including front to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members joumaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said winding members including remote end portions journaled in journal blocks supported from said side marginal portions intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, one pair of corresponding ends of said side marginal portions being pivotally supported from the opposite ends of the corresponding side to side extending marginal portion for swinging about upstanding axes and the other pair of ends of said side marginal portions being removably anchored in position, said journal blocks being axially disengageable from said remote end portions, and winding drums axially telescopingly engaged over said remote end portions and keyed to said winding members for rotation therewith.

3. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including from to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members joumaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first couping means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to'said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means includes a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means, a crank arm carried by a rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof joumaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof pivotally secured to said wire guides, said other pair of ends of said connecting rods being detachable from said guides, said rods each, when said other end thereof is disconnected from the corresponding guide, being swingable to an inactive position generally paralleling the other rod, said rods including coacting means'operable to support each of said rods in its inactive position with its end portion remote from the crank arm supported from the corresponding end portion of the other rod.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said second coupling means includes means for selectively declutching said front to rear extending drive shaft, the opposite end portions of said rear marginal portion of said frame include rearwardly projectingsupports generally horizontally aligned with the lowest points of the circles through which said one pair of ends of said connecting rods are swingable upon rotation of said shaft, the other pair of ends of said connecting rods being downwardly swingable into supporting contact with said rearwardly projecting supports after said other pair of ends are detached from said guides.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said winding members include remote end portions journaled in journal blocks supported from. said side marginal portions intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, one pair of corresponding ends of said side marginal portions being pivotally supported from the opposite ends of the corresponding side to side extending marginal portion for swinging about upstanding axes and the other pair of ends of said side marginal portions being removably anchored in position, said journal blocks being axially disengageable from said remote end portions, and winding drums axially telescopingly engaged-over said remote end portions and keyed to said winding members for rotation therewith.

6. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, a pair of winding members joumaled from opposite side portions of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said frame rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation transversely of said frame, second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means including a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means, a crank arm carried by the rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof joumaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof removably pivotally secured to said wire guides, one of said connecting rods including a laterally outwardly and opening cradle member supported therefrom intermediate its opposite ends, the other of said connecting rods including a midportion seatingly receivable in said cradle, whereby either connecting rod may be disconnected from the corresponding wire guide and swung to a position generally paralleling the remaining connecting rod with said other crank am having said midportion thereof seated in said cradle.

l i I 

1. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including front to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members journaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means including a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means, a crank arm carried by a rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof journaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof pivotally secured to said wire guides, said second coupling means including means for selectively declutching said front to rear extending drive shaft, said other pair of ends of said connecting rods being detachable from said guides, the opposite end portions of said rear marginal portion of said frame include rearwardly projecting supports generally horizontally aligned with the lowest points of the circles through which said one pair of ends of said connecting rods are swingable upon rotation of said shaft, the other pair of ends of said connecting rods being downwardly swingable into supporting contact with said rearwardly projecting supports after said other pair of ends are detached from said guides.
 2. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including front to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members journaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said winding members including remote end portions journaled in journal blocks supported from said side marginal portions intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, one pair of corresponding ends of said side marginal portions being pivotally supported from the opposite ends of the corresponding side to side extending marginal portion for swinging about upstanding axes and the other pair of ends of said side marginal portions being removably anchored in position, said journal blocks being axially disengageable from said remote end portions, and winding drums axially telescopingly engaged over said remote end portions and keyed to said winding members for rotation therewith.
 3. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, said frame including front to rear extending opposite side marginal portions interconnected by side to side extending front and rear marginal portions, a pair of winding members journaled from opposite side sections of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame between the opposite side marginal portions thereof, drive means carried by said frame, first couping means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said rear marginal portion rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation along said rear marginal portion, and second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means includes a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means, a crank arm carried by a rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof journaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof pivotally secured to said wire guides, said other pair of ends of said connecting rods being detachable from said guides, said rods each, when said other end thereof is disconnected from the corresponding guide, being swingable to an inactive position generally paralleling the other rod, said rods including coacting means operable to support each of said rods in its inactive position with its end portion remote from the crank arm supported from the corresponding end portion of the other rod.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said second coupling means includes means for selectively declutching said front to rear extending drive shaft, the opposite end portions of said rear marginal portion of said frame include rearwardly projecting supports generally horizontally aligned with the lowest points of the circles through which said one pair of ends of said connecting rods are swingable upon rotation of said shaft, the other pair of ends of said connecting rods being downwardly swingable into supporting contact with said rearwardly projecting supports after said other pair of ends are detached from said guides.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said winding members include remote end portions journaled in journal blocks supported from said side marginal portions intermediate the fRont and rear ends thereof, one pair of corresponding ends of said side marginal portions being pivotally supported from the opposite ends of the corresponding side to side extending marginal portion for swinging about upstanding axes and the other pair of ends of said side marginal portions being removably anchored in position, said journal blocks being axially disengageable from said remote end portions, and winding drums axially telescopingly engaged over said remote end portions and keyed to said winding members for rotation therewith.
 6. A wire winding and unrolling apparatus comprising a support frame adapted for support from a prime mover, a pair of winding members journaled from opposite side portions of said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of said frame, drive means carried by said frame, first coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said winding members, wire guides supported from said frame rearward of said winding members for horizontal reciprocation transversely of said frame, second coupling means drivingly coupling said drive means to said wire guides for causing their reciprocation in time with rotation of said winding members, said second coupling means including a front to rear extending drive shaft driven from said drive means, a crank arm carried by the rear end portion of said shaft, and a pair of connecting rods having one pair of corresponding ends thereof journaled on the free end of said crank arm and the other pair of ends thereof removably pivotally secured to said wire guides, one of said connecting rods including a laterally outwardly and opening cradle member supported therefrom intermediate its opposite ends, the other of said connecting rods including a midportion seatingly receivable in said cradle, whereby either connecting rod may be disconnected from the corresponding wire guide and swung to a position generally paralleling the remaining connecting rod with said other crank arm having said midportion thereof seated in said cradle. 